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Guilt formed an annoying knot of pressure in my chest.

Goldyn assessed me coolly, her whisky eyes intent before she blinked and looked away.

“Listen, I understand that just because I offer an apology it doesn’t mean you have to take it. The good news is that you never have to see me again. So, if you’ll excuse?—”

Her departure was interrupted by the sound of bounding footsteps. Seconds later, Sincere and Enzo appeared at the foot of the stairs, fingers loosely intwined before they turned around and noticed us in the foyer.

Sincere spoke first, his smile so bright I had to look away as guilt continued to gnaw away at me. I was a fucking dick and now Goldyn wouldn’t meet my eyes, after so brazenly holding contact up until now.

“Is everything okay?” Sincere asked, his gaze ping-ponging between us.

I spoke before Goldyn could, scared she would try to leave again. She couldn’t do that before I got a chance to apologize. Inprivate.

“Everything’s fine.” I infused my voice with levity I didn’t feel. “Our houseguest was just trying to sneak out before breakfast.”

DidI fall asleep and wake up in the Twilight Zone?

That question was the only one in my head as I looked around the dining room table at the family-style feast the guys had whipped up in less than an hour.

It made me believe they’d done it often and I was just witnessing their daily coexistence.

After talking me into staying for breakfast, Romeo disappeared upstairs to shower while Lorenzo and Sincere guided me back to the living room, gave me a remote and told me to watch whatever I wanted while they made a “quick” breakfast.

When Rome reappeared, he surprised me by walking right over to where I sat and kneeling in front of me. “How did you sleep?”

His quiet voice was so deep, it sent chills scattering over my skin.

“Good,” I answered as his eyes swept over my face, clueing me in to the fact that he was physically examining me to make sure the tea didn’t have any dramatic lasting effects.

“Did you wake up after your shower during the night?”

“No, I slept straight through to morning.”

Romeo nodded.

“I’m just checking your pupils,” he said by way of explanation as he moved in closer.

I didn’t exhale until he backed up.

“Dreams?”

“Yes. Very vivid dreams actually,” I said.

“And how do you feel now? Sluggish? Confused?”

“I feel great.” It was the truth. I’d gotten the best sleep of my life and my mind was as clear as it’d been in a while.

“Good,” he responded curtly before standing to vacate my personal space.

Just as abrupt as it started, the exchange was over, and Romeo walked into the kitchen without another word.

Now, I stared wide-eyed at my full plate after Sincere passed me yet another dish. This one was laden with muffins.

“Here you go, love. Have a muffin,” he offered gently, moving to put one on my plate when I didn’t reach for it quick enough.

My plate was already full and now I had a comically large muffin hanging off the side of it. I was going to be bursting at the seams whenever I pushed away from this table. But Sincere’s soft-spoken nature wouldn’t allow me to tell him no. Especially when I knew he’d made them.

“Take as many as you want,” he offered, his kind eyes shining.